Malam Ibrahim Shekarau the only two term Executive Governor of Kano State , is a Man that is use to swim against tides. When he first emerge on the political scene before the 2003 elections, many political pundits listed him among the unserious contenders and suprisely he emerged victorious. So also during the 2007 elections against all odds breaking the traditional norm of not having second term in Kano Goverment House, Governor Shekarau broke the jinx ! And recently his supporters are calling on him to seek for the office of President of Nigeria in 2011. Constitutionally , Governor Shekarau is entitle to seek for office of President of Federal Republic of Nigeria , and like all Kanawas i will also look forward to the day a son of the soil will become a democratically elected President of Nigeria as no one from Kano state have the priveledge of been elected as President of Nigeria. And if Shekarau answered the call, will he emerge victorious in a venture so many Kanawas have attempted and failed?Prominent among them are Mallam Aminu Kano , Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule (Dan Masanin Kano) , Alhaji Bashir Usman Tofa and Alhaji Abubakar Rimi.
The call on Shekarau to contest for presidency come 2011 is getting louder and louder by the day , and he has neither answer nor said what are his intentions after leaving Kano Goverment House in 2011. Before the call snowball to a national dimension , Shekarau should as a matter of urgency study the possibilities or otherwise of the call and take appropriate position.
Already many political commentators have various views as to why Governor Ibrahim Shekarau might dive into the political terrain to seek for Nigeria's presidency in 2011. Some are of the view that as his party ANPP is the biggest opposition party in Nigeria , he may be the party's presidential aspirant so as to enable President Umaru Musa Yar'adua have a smooth coast to victory in 2011 elections, no matter how the election will be conducted Shekarau will accept the result in good faith and will be willing to board the goverment of national unity after the elections. While some are of the view that Governor Ibrahim Shekarau will be used to finally frustrate General Muhammadu Buhari out of ANPP even if he decides to stay put in the party after the Supreme Court delivers it's judgement . As Shekarau a loyal and law abiding party member may have upper hand against other contenders like General Muhammadu Buhari if he decides to contest against who are not loyal to party supremacy .
As for me i will sincerely advise Malam Ibrahim Shekarau to study the terrain carefully before sticking his neck in this risky and unpredictable venture of contesting for seat of Nigeria's presidency. Firstly, he should be wise enough like Senator Ahmed Sani Yariman Bakura not to contest against President Umaru Yar'adua if he decide to contest for second term. Secondly, he should not contest against Genaral Muhammadu Buhari even if he is not contesting on the platform of ANPP to avoid missing in the presidential aspirants crowd such like former Governor of Sokoto state Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa during the 2007 elections . Thirdly, he should only contest if his financial status improves or when he has solid promises of getting financial support when he is into the race, in an interview he granted last year , Shekarau said he doe'snt even own a house of himself and if he leaves Kano Goverment House he does not have a place to pack into.
But on the otherhand , Governor Shekarau can contest for presidency if the leading opposition parties AC, PPA , DPP e.t.c decided to form alliance with ANPP to defeat PDP with Shekarau as ANPP presidential aspirant . And if also General Muhammadu Buhari , Alhaji Atiku Abibakar , Cheif Uzo Kalu , Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa all decided not to contest for presidency in 2011 and also decided to collectively support , back and campaign for Shekarau , then he can also contest . And finally , if President Umaru Musa Yar'adua advise him to contest wheater under the platform of PDP if he is not contesting again or on the platform of ANPP or any other party, he should'nt even hesitate , he can go ahead and contest for presidency in 2011.
Governor Ibrahim Shekarau should resist the temptation for contesting for presidency just for the sake of contesting or overwhelmed by his previous accomplishments of dislodging a sitting governor Alhaji Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso though he did not have the financial capability for such venture and against all expectations breaking the jinx of not having second term in Kano State. Nigeria's presidency is a serious venture which all beneficiaries had the backing and blessings of incumbents and various groups of power elites. With so many hawks hovering around the presidency it is not advisable for starters like Governor Shekarau to venture into such murky waters.
The concern of Governor Ibrahim Shekarau should be centred on how his loyalist should take over from him as the opposition party in Kano state PDP led by heavy weight politicians like Alhaji Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na'abba , Alhaji Usman Sule Ruruwai , Alhaji Ibrahim Amin Little , Alhaji Garba Ahmed and supporters of General Muhammadu Buhari led by Alhaji Haruna Ahmadu Zago will all put all effort to have one of their own as next governor of Kano state. What happen in Sokoto state during 2007 election can re-curr in Kano state if Shekarau like Bafarawa went in search of the presidency but ended up loosing both.
The senate would have been more suitable for Shekarau in 2011 if he has become less ambitious , but even the senate will be a risky venture as the present senator representing Kano central , Shekarau's senatorial zone , Senator Muhammad Bello can only stepdown for Shekarau if he annointed him as his successor.
May be most of those calling on Governor Ibrahim Shekarau to contest for Nigeria's presidency are of the thought that if he answer their call he will throw open the gate of Kano tresury for them to have their fill as some former state governors did during the 2007 elections used their state resources to seek for Nigeria's presidency and are now today either in the custody of EFCC or playing hide and seek with anti-corruption agencies .2011 is a bid far away from now which gives Governor Shekarau much time to fully study such calls as to either accept the call or reject them. It either of the two da mugun rawa gwamma kin tashi and da rashin tayi akan bar araha !
Shehu Mustapha Chaji
shehuchaji@yahoo.com
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